Former Port Authority Commission Involved in Safety Scandal

Former Port Authority Commission Involved in Safety Scandal

Posted on Apr 28, 2014 5:00pm PDT

At a time when so many Americans are struggling to find employment, safety
concerns are the jobs are often not seen as a priority. This gives those
with their own agenda an opportunity to cut corners in order to reduce
the cost of a job. In some areas of employment such as construction, injury
is an already a constant possibility, so with the added risk of unsafe
equipment or materials working on a site can result in significant physical harm.

Recently a former Port Authority commissioner intervened to allow one of
his private sector clients the use of a
tower crane already deemed unsafe in New York. The commissioner, Anthony Sartor, resigned on April 14th after allegations his agency was repeated hired by the New Jersey business
SJP Properties. The company developed the crane, and it was used despite
its reputation for being dangerous at numerous sites in New York and New
Jersey. In the past the crane’s lift cables unspooled twice while
its crew’s attempted to lift thousands of pounds of steel.

In 2011, the same rig unexpectedly dropped 14,000 pounds of steels it was
lifting dropped the load over 100 feet. The dropped weight barely missed
workers on the site of new World Trade Center construction. This uncontrolled
drop was repeated in 2012 when the rig operating at 48 stories up, lost
48,000 pounds of steel sending it crashing down narrowly missing workers
on another site.

While the rig was banned for use in New York, Sartor was accused of using
his influence to see SLP was able to use it in New Jersey. After investigation
by the Port Authority SLP agreed to make changes to the rig to reinforce
its winch, and then add redundancy to its hydraulics. The brakes were
also to be modified.

Sartor submitted a letter of resignation to the New Jersey’s Governor,
but didn’t make an admission of guilt. Instead, the resignation
only mentioned his desire to spend more time with family.

For those who work on a project the politics surrounding the big business
of construction aren’t important. Men and women who work on a site
have other concerns such as the support and security of their family.
Earning a paycheck might mean hard work, but no one should be exposed
to unnecessary risk.

Construction workers run a high risk of painful injury, and many are left
disabled or unable to work after a serious accident. The job of a personal
injury lawyer is to access not only the financial costs of the injuries,
but also to look at any unnecessary and prevent hazards, which could have
led to a preventable accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured in any sort of accident, you need
the power of an experienced legal professional on your side.Call Perecman Law Firm, P.L.LC. today to schedule a free consultation. We are here for you 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week.